Category: Wales Rugby

Wales Rugby News

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Nayacalevu back to fire the Flying Fijians

Fiji coach Mick Byrne has told his players he doesn’t want a repeat of the nightmarish start his side experienced against Scotland when they face Wales at the Principality Stadium in round two of the Autumn Nations Series. Up against it from the start with none of their overseas stars playing in France and England […]

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Anscombe ready to steer Wales once again

Gareth Anscombe believes the new look Welsh team can build the momentum required to break the chain of recent results. The 33-year-old outside half will make his first appearance for Wales since Rugby World Cup 2023 when he starts on Sunday at Principality Stadium, in tandem with his Gloucester half-back partner Tomos Williams, and is […]

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Lake wants ‘clinical and controlled’ Wales to get back to winning ways

Dewi Lake can’t wait to captain Wales for the first time on home soil – and wants his side to be clinical and stay in control against Fiji in the opening game of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. The Ospreys hooker will lead his country for the seventh time in his career on Sunday 10 […]

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Gareth Thomas: ‘Rugby broke me down but I managed to rebuild myself’

The dual code rugby international on stigma, sexual health and inspiring the next generation

By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required

Gareth Thomas played 100 times for Wales at rugby union and four at rugby league. He spent the last few years of his career hoping to illuminate the subject of sexuality. He retired in 2011 after his club – Wrexham-based Crusaders – withdrew from Super League and injury ruled out leading Wales against England, New Zealand and Australia in the Four Nations. He was the only “out” gay male player from around 3,500 first team professionals at nearly 150 British rugby, football and cricket clubs. That figure still remains at one. Progress is glacial.

The former Bridgend, Cardiff and Toulouse centre first spoke publicly about having HIV five years ago. Now 50, and physically well, Thomas was taken to court by a former partner who accused him of infecting him with HIV. Thomas settled in early 2023 but maintained his innocence and said he settled without any admission of liability due to the costs involved of fully defending himself.

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Celtic Challenge teams confirmed for season ahead

The Celtic Challenge will see the return of familiar names this season as the six teams are confirmed for the new League season. Set to kick-off in December, the league will welcome back Brython Thunder, the Clovers, Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Gwalia Lightning, and the Wolfhounds for a season set to raise the bar for […]

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Rowlands excited to be back in Wales camp

Will Rowlands has returned to the Wales camp after a summer off refreshed, re-invigorated and ready to go for the Autumn Nations Series. The giant 33-year-old Racing 92 lock sat out the summer matches against South Africa and Australia to recharge his batteries after ‘a long year’ and can’t wait to add his weight and […]

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‘It’s been an incredible ride’: Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies retires

  • Davies won 96 caps and two grand slams for Wales
  • Centre played six Tests for British and Irish Lions

The former Wales, British and Irish Lions and Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

The 36-year-old, who won 96 caps for Wales, left Scarlets at the end of the 2023-24 season having scored 55 tries in 209 appearances across two spells for the Welsh region.

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Dan Biggar: ‘I quite enjoyed taking flak and proving people wrong the next week’

The former Wales fly-half on breaking the mould to survive in the No 10 jersey, disappointment over concessions from players’ strike threats and life by the beach in Toulon

“I’m certainly not your stereotypical Welsh fly‑half and I don’t apologise for being different,” Dan Biggar says with a wry smile at a little restaurant on the beach front in Toulon. “I quite like the fact that I was different and did it my way.”

Storm clouds are rolling in from the sea and the atmospheric setting adds to a compelling conversation with Biggar, who, in contrast to his feisty image on the rugby pitch, is a friendly and thoughtful man. The darkening sky reminds us of Wales, which, for Biggar, “has always been a land of poets and dreamers”.

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